A/N: SMUT WARNING! And in the next chapter coming soon we'll finally get to see Mal ride the bull. By the way, the name for the bull 'Big Evil' is in honor of Vin Diesel's Riddick character and the new Riddick movie coming out soon. / DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. :)
Jayne woke up the next morning and reached for Tessa only to find an empty spot in the bed. Bolting upright he hurried into a pair of pants and ran downstairs to find her. It was his ma that he found in the kitchen, though and he didn't even have to say anything to her to find out what he wanted to know. She already read the panic on his face and pointed toward the backdoor.
"She went to pick blackberries, said she needed to be alone for a while," Ma told him. "I gave her a basket and pointed her in the direction of the thicket. I take it you didn't settle things last night."
"She was asleep by the time I found her," Jayne explained putting on his boots. "I was gonna talk to her this morning but she woke up before me. I'll go right now and sort it out."
With that said he was out the door and in search of his bride. The blackberry thicket was only about three hundred yards from the house. He found her there kneeling on the ground beside her basket and already she had it nearly full so she must have been out there longer than he thought. Jayne approached her carefully half-afraid she'd bolt before he got the chance to talk to her.
"Tessa," he said softly and she jumped startled and turned to look at him but didn't say anything, just watched him warily as he closed the distance between them and took a seat on the ground beside her. He hated that he'd put that look in her eyes. She was guarded around him now and that was the last thing he wanted. With a heavy sigh he began, "Baby, we need to talk about last night.'
Tessa opened her mouth to speak but he shook his head and held up a hand, "No, let me finish. I got some things to say and you need to listen closely because I'm not used to talking about my feelings and such. None of it may come out right but this is important so I'm gonna try.'
She gave him a nod so he continued, "First of all, I wanna apologize for how I reacted. I know I screwed up, baby and I'm sorry that I hurt you and made you cry. I never wanted to do that, swore to myself I wouldn't ever, and I messed up. Secondly, you surprised the hell out of me just coming out and saying that like that. I wasn't expecting it. I've never said those words to anybody before, except maybe my ma when I was little but that's different. I think a lot of times people throw those words around too easily and don't give any thought to what they really mean. I know you did mean it, though. I ain't done a lot of good things in my life but you're the best thing to ever happen to me and I know that. I still don't know what I did to deserve you, Tessa. You make me happy and when you smile at me I feel like I could take on the whole verse and win. I wanna make you that happy. I never want you to cry yourself to sleep again because of me. I ain't perfect by any means, you know, and I admit that I can be an insensitive hun dan sometimes but last night I was wrong how I acted when you told me that. What I should have said, and what I never want you to doubt again the rest of your life, is that I love you too."
Her eyes were filled with unshed tears by the time he finished and all she could manage to choke out was, "Jayne," before she threw herself into his arms and kissed him. He kissed her back fervently and held her tight and close.
"I do, baby," he whispered passionately against her mouth. "I love you more than anything."
Tessa broke the kiss to smile at him and take his face in her hands, "I love you too, darlin, so much it hurts."
"Where's it hurt, baby?" he asked and she took one of his hands placing it over her heart. Jayne caressed the spot then bent down and placed a reverent kiss there before taking her mouth with his again and laying them both down in the grass with his body covering hers. She hurriedly helped him out of his pants while he removed her clothes and then he was sliding inside her making them both cry out with pleasure. They moved together as one, overwhelmed by emotion and passion, until they yelled together in their climax uncaring of whom or what might hear them.
Meanwhile back at the house, Mal was sneaking into River's room to wake up his little witch. He closed the door behind him and locked it then made his way over to the bed where she was sleeping soundly. She looked so beautiful that he almost didn't want to wake her. They had been pried apart the night before around two am by Simon and Ma Cobb who said they'd been kissing enough and it was time to sleep. Mal hadn't agreed but River assured him there would be many more opportunities for them tomorrow, which now was today, so he had gotten up and come straight to her if only to assure himself that last night hadn't been a dream and she really was his girl now.
He took a seat gingerly on the edge of the bed then braced his hands on either side of her before leaning down to kiss her softly. He was surprised when she kissed back. After a moment he broke the kiss and leaned back to look at her finding her eyes open and her smiling up at him.
"You big faker," he muttered making her giggle. "I thought you were asleep."
"I know you did," River grinned tapping the side of her head. "I thought it was cute."
Mal blushed a little sheepishly then grinned and came down on his elbows so he was halfway laying over her. "I was going for romantic but cute will do I suppose," he told her.
"With you, ai ren, cute is romantic," River assured him running a hand through his hair. Her chocolate brown eyes met his thundercloud blue ones and she moved her hand down to caress his cheek and run a thumb over his lips. "I love you, Mal."
"I love you too, River," Mal told her seriously. He took her hand and kissed her palm then her mouth once again. "You know, there's no going back now. It's you and me now for keeps."
"I know," she nodded firmly, a determined set to her jaw. "You're all I want in the verse. I'll make you happy."
"You already make me happy, darlin," he said with a slight disbelieving laugh. "I don't know how you couldn't possibly know that."
"Happier then," River amended while running her hands over his shoulders and along his chest learning her new territory. He seemed amused by it but his thoughts betrayed his lustful thoughts as did the darkening of his eyes. Stopping her exploration she had to stifle a giggle when he actually pouted. She explained, "Ma is coming. She knows you're in here and since we aren't married you have to go. Remember what she told Simon and Kaylee."
"Oh right," Mal nodded moving off her but not before stealing one more kiss. Sure enough Ma Cobb knocked on the door a moment later.
"Malcolm Reynolds, you get out of that girl's bedroom," Ma said sternly through the door. "You ain't her husband yet."
Mal walked to the door and opened it giving Ma a sheepish grin. "Her virtue's intact, Ma, I promise," he said holding his hands up in surrender. "I just wanted to kiss my darlin good morning."
"Well, it's time for breakfast so go get downstairs to eat," Ma told him. He nodded and walked off. She looked at River then and gave the girl a conspiratorial wink and smile. "Get dressed, honey, and join us."
"Yes, Ma," River nodded and Ma left going down to supervise her guests' breakfast.
Jayne and Tessa came back a little while after everybody sat down and Ma nearly let out a sigh of relief when she saw them holding hands and the smiles on their faces. Jayne set the basket of blackberries Tessa picked in the cold storage then sat him and his bride down to have breakfast.
"Where have you two been?" Simon asked curiously.
"Picking blackberries," Jayne told him curtly. "Tessa's gonna make a cobbler later on for the shindig."
"Oh," Simon nodded seemingly satisfied with the answer and pointedly ignoring the somewhat large love bite on Jayne's neck and the merc's shirtless state as well. He knew exactly what they'd been up to and picking berries was the least of it.
Dean Cobb walked in then and Mal stiffened beside River when he saw him but she reached over and rubbed his thigh giving him a reassuring smile until he relaxed. As for Dean, he sat down at the table on Jayne's other side like he hadn't a care in the world and smiled at them all.
"How is everybody this morning?" he asked. "I brought that little mare for River to break in. Her name's Delilah. And I hear you're gonna try and ride Big Evil tonight, Capt'n Reynolds. He's kinda dangerous for a beginner. Mama don't even want me on him and I've been bull riding since I was seven."
"I'll be fine," Mal assured the younger man tightly. "I've faced plenty of enemies tougher than a bull and I always come out fine."
"If you say so," Dean shrugged indifferently then gave River a wink just to annoy the captain further. "You know, darlin, if you ever get tired of him I'm always available."
"Thank you for the offer but I love him. There won't be another for me," River assured him politely. "When do I get to break in Delilah?"
"Anytime you want to," he told her. "You oughta eat up, though. You're gonna need the energy."
A little over an hour later with all the Cobb's and Serenity's crew in attendance, and despite Mal's pleading with her to reconsider, River Tam was mounting the wild mare Delilah in the corral.
Mal held his breath in trepidation and worry then sent Dean Cobb a warning growl, "If anything happens to her I'm gonna kill you. Just so you know."
"She'll be fine, Capt'n," Tessa assured him from Mal's other side between him and Jayne. "I used to do it all the time."
"But you ain't doing it now," Jayne clarified with just a hint of question in his tone. She nodded confirmation and wrapped her arms around one of his.
"No, darlin, not anymore. But you're not getting on any bulls either remember," she reminded him. He nodded and kissed the top of her head pulling her further into his arms in front of him between him and the corral fence.
"I remember the deal," Jayne said.
They watched as River mounted the horse carefully and as soon as her weight settled on the saddle the mare began to buck and protest. But the agile Reader witch did as Tessa and Dean told her to and held on, rocking and moving with the horse for what seemed like hours until it settled down and accepted that it was going to ridden whether it liked it or not. When River began walking and trotting the mare around the corral she couldn't help the triumphant grin that crossed her face. Her gaze settled on Mal and he looked as proud and thrilled for her as any man could be with their sweetheart. He sent her a grin and a wink then climbed up on the fence to give her a congratulatory kiss as she rode over to them and the others gathered let out cheers and wolf whistles.
"You did so good, bao bei," Mal whispered to her. "I'm proud of you, darlin. But um – could you not put me through that again? I nearly had a heart attack when that mare starting trying to buck you off."
"I have satisfied my curiosity, ai ren," River assured him. "It was exhilarating though not as much as fighting Reavers."
"That – I pray you never have to do again. I mean to make certain of it in fact," he told her seriously. Then he leaned back and gave the mare a pat on the rump. "Go get her unsaddled and seen to, darlin. I wanna have you to myself for a while before the shindig starts."
River nodded and led Delilah into the stables where Dean was waiting with a smile. She dismounted and smiled back. "Thank you for this, Dean, for everything really. I apologize for your injuries," she said sincerely. He just shrugged and gave her a grin that reminded her of Jayne's.
"I've had worse," Dean said helping her unsaddle and brush down Delilah. "You did good out there, especially for a first timer."
"I'm a fast learner," River explained quietly. He must have heard something odd in her tone because he stopped and gave her a look. Sighing she said, "Technically, I'm a genius. My parents sent me to a special school when I was young because of it but the Academy turned out to be a very bad place. The things they taught me, made of me, weren't good. I'm a Reader now because of them."
"Oh," he nodded slowly taking that in then sighed. "Well, darlin, you seem to have made it out of it okay."
"I got lucky. Simon got me out and then we found Mal and the others on Serenity," she told him. "It's only because of them that I'm okay now. I was – unwell – for a long time."
"Yeah, we all heard about the feng le girl that slashed open Uncle Jayne's chest, sweetheart. But he seems to have forgiven you so don't worry about it," Dean shrugged again. "Like you said, you weren't yourself then."
She smiled gratefully and relaxed again in his presence. He was a lot more understanding that his uncle had been. If she weren't so impossibly in love with Mal then she might have given Dean serious consideration.
After they managed to sneak away from the others Mal and River walked hand in hand through the woods by the creek talking.
"You will be careful on the bull tonight, won't you?" River asked him. He nodded and kissed her hand with a boyish smirk.
"Of course I will, darlin. Don't even worry about it," Mal assured her. Then he began leading them off the trail and up the hillside toward the rocky outcrops and small meadows that overlooked the river where it met the creek.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll see. I found it yesterday when I went off to think a while, wanted to show it to you," he explained. Shortly afterward they came upon a meadow of soft green grass and wild lavender that ended in a cliff that looked over the whole river valley below. Letting go of her hand he let her wander around and look for a few moments before she came back to him and grinned wrapping her arms around his waist.
"It's beautiful, Mal," River declared standing on tiptoe to give him a sweet kiss. "Thank you for sharing it with me."
"Well, I'm glad you like it, darlin," Mal said taking a seat on the grass and stretching out. "Because we're gonna be here a while until I rest up enough to make it back down that hill."
"You'd better be saving that energy for the bull tonight," River warned resting beside him.
"I'm just kidding, River. I ain't decrepit just yet," he sent her wink turning on his side to look at her as she did the same in order to face him. He took his free hand and ran it over her hip then the dip of her waist and up her arm then over her shoulder down to her collarbone with his eyes following the movement of his fingers. Then his eyes met hers when she gasped lightly as he hit a sensitive spot just below her throat and he saw her eyes darkened to almost black. "Gorram you're beautiful, darlin. Makes me ache all over just looking at you."
"You could always do more than look," she whispered leaning closer to him. As her lips brushed his their eyes drifted shut and he kissed her back deeply.
Soon they were making out heatedly there in the meadow. River had promptly removed his shirt and he had hers off as well. Mal cursed silently about it being one of the few times River wore pants instead of a dress and she giggled hearing his thought.
"Well, it's the truth," Mal told her frankly. She responded by kicking off her boots, socks, and wriggling out of her jeans and tossing them aside leaving her in just her bra and panties. She then surprised him further by removing those as well. The captain had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. Looking at her he said, "You're not helping my self control at all, bao bei."
"I don't want you controlled, ai ren," River told him seriously running her hands over his chest, torso, shoulders and arms then around to his back raking her nails down lightly while kissing him deeply. "I want you, all of you, no holding back."
Mal lowered himself over her kicking his boots and socks off as he went, his hips coming to cradle into hers naturally. He knew she felt his erection by the slight gasp and widening of her eyes just before she rocked into him instinctively to ease the ache in her own core.
He kissed his way down her body, neglecting nothing. He never tasted anything as delicious as River Tam. Her whimpers and moans drove him wild, making his cock throb painfully in his trousers. Easing one hand between her thighs to work her with his fingers he fought to maintain control to be gentle and careful with her. She was brand new to this and so very tight.
River wasn't idle either. She had already gotten his trousers unbuttoned and was kissing and touching him anywhere and everywhere she could reach. When she slid her hand inside his trousers to wrap around and stroke his erection with hesitant curiosity he sucked in a sharp breath and bucked his hips into her hand involuntarily.
"Oh God, darlin, you're gonna be the death of me," Mal groaned taking her mouth with his once more.
"I want you inside me," River pleaded trying to get his pants off him. "Please, ai ren, I need -,"
He kissed her to cut her off and nodded, both of them breathing hard. "I know, bao bei. I'm gonna take care of you," he promised. He'd had her on the edge of orgasm about five minutes now with his fingers but he wanted to taste her honey before he took her fully. So he eased down between her legs and gave her his mouth making her grip his hair and scream his name. It didn't take long before he had her coming hard and shaking from the power of it. Even her core tasted like apples he decided as he placed open-mouth kisses up her body to her mouth again letting her taste herself on his lips and tongue.
"I never thought – so good," River managed to get out. She had never cared less about being articulate before in her life. Her body was humming with pleasure and then she felt his cock hard and throbbing against her slick, hot folds and whimpered.
"I gotta be inside you, darlin," Mal told her, a pleading note in his voice. He kissed her deeply and positioned himself at her entrance sliding gently inside her until he reached her maidenhead then he pushed through quickly to the hilt and she cried out breaking the kiss. He froze, letting her body adjust to the invasion and kissed her softly in apology. "I'm sorry, River. It won't hurt anymore, darlin."
She took a deep breath, let it out and forced her muscles to relax. When she gave him a nod and rubbed his chest he began to move in slow thrusts gradually picking up pace as she met and kept his rhythm.
Rivulets of sweat ran down their bodies from exertion and they were definitely going to have grass stains on them but the couple were uncaring as they moved together toward their release.
"You're so close, darlin. Come for me, River. Let me see you," Mal said easing a hand between them to work her clit. She tightened her thighs on his hips and wrapped her legs around his waist higher to take him deeper, clawing his back with her nails and throwing her head back screaming his name out as she came again.
Mal was so enthralled with her orgasmic beauty that he was completely unprepared for her climax to trigger his, her inner muscles tightening and contracting around him making him come so hard he saw spots before his eyes and shouted her name to the sky pumping his seed deep inside her, his hands gripping her hips tightly.
When they came down from their high they lay in tangled limbs, sated and content watching the clouds pass by overhead as the sun began its descent toward nightfall.
"We should get back," River said after a while.
He kissed her shoulder and nuzzled her neck nodding. "Yeah, I gotta get ready for Big Evil," Mal agreed. Then his eyes met hers in a serious look. "Any regrets?"
"No, never," she shook her head firmly. "You?"
"No, darlin," he smiled gently and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I gave up all my reservations and fears about this yesterday. I'm yours until I die, River."
"And I'm yours," River told him threading her fingers through his hair, "For keeps."
